We all have had a fever at least once and know how it feels. A fever is a rise in body temperature. This simply indicates that there is an occurrence of abnormal activity in our body.1 You can get a fever due to numerous factors like a viral or bacterial infection, exhaustion from heat, a cancerous tumour, medications like antibiotics and medicines used to treat seizures or high blood pressure, vaccines (like COVID vaccine, diphtheria, tetanus, etc.) and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
A fever merely indicates that something is not right in the body, but it doesn’t give much idea as to what exactly is going on. It does not even indicate the presence of a disease. Viral fever, as one of the major types of fever, is elaborated in detail in this article.
What Causes Viral Fever?
Fever is the increase in the body temperature from the normal range of 36.4 C – 37.4 C (97.5 F to 98.9 F) to 38 C (100.4 F) or even higher. There can be multiple reasons that can cause a rise in body temperature. When the fever occurs due to a viral infection, it is called a viral fever.
Symptoms of Viral Fever:
Viral fever is usually accompanied by symptoms and a rise in body temperature above 38 C (100.4 F).
You might also experience the following symptoms:
Nausea
Body ache
Flushing of face
Dry and hot skin
Loss of appetite
Headache
Vomiting
Constipation or diarrhoea
Dark coloured urine
Decrease in urine
Home Remedies for Viral Fever:
As fever can be due to a wide variety of reasons, it can be quite difficult to pinpoint the actual cause. Moreover, a wide range of viruses can cause viral fever.1 Consulting a doctor and seeking their expert advice and treatment will be the best choice. However, a few simple home remedies for viral fever might be helpful.
A few possible home remedies are as follows.
1. Coriander seed powder
Coriander seeds are commonly known as dhaniya. It belongs to the family Apiaceae, and its scientific name is Coriandrum sativum. Coriander seeds have potential use for multiple conditions in Ayurveda. They might have a use for fever as well. Your Ayurvedic physician may suggest that you mix a little bit of coriander seed powder in warm water to bring down your fever. Sugar can be added for an improvement in taste. This remedy might be helpful for fever.
2. Guduchi
It is also known as Giloe and Gurcha in Hindi, Gilo in Punjabi, etc. Your doctor might recommend consuming a decoction prepared using Guduchi. It might have potential use in reducing fever. To prepare the decoction, stems of Guduchi can be boiled in water, and other ingredients like dry ginger, Patraka, etc. might also be added.
3. Isvari
A plant by the name Aristolochia indica belongs to the family Aristolochiaceae. It is commonly called as Ishwari, Indian Birthwort and Serpent Root. Consumption of this plant might help reduce fever. The juice of the whole plant may have antipyretic properties. A few drops of this plant might be given to you as medicine by an Ayurvedic physician for fever and diarrhoea.
4. Ivy Gourd
Bimbi, also known as Ivy gourd in English, Kundaruki Bel in Hindi and Tondale in Marathi, might positively affect fever. External application of leaf of this plant might help induce perspiration which might help reduce fever. Kindly consult a doctor and do not use it to self-medicate.
5. Changeri
Ambolee (Gujarati), Amrul (Bengali), Indian Sorrel (English), Pulichinta (Telugu), etc., are the different names of Changeri. In the scientific community, it is also known as Oxalis comiculata belonging to the family Oxalidaceae. The paste of the whole plant of Changeri is boiled in some water and the water is then reduced. Drinking this decoction might be help reduce fever.
6. Jeera
Jeera might have the potential to be helpful in various conditions like memory enhancement, piles, flatulence, etc. It might also have the potential to reduce the body temperature in fever. In English, Jeera is known as cumin seeds or simply cumin. It belongs to the family Apiaceae with the scientific name Cuminum cyminum. For intermittent fever, taking jeera with a bit of black pepper and jaggery might be helpful.
7. Fluids
Drinking fluids in the form of water, juices and soups might help reduce fever. Your doctor might also recommend oral rehydration solution (ORS). It is commonly available at any medical store. It may be advised especially for children under one year, as it contains water and salts that replenish lost fluids and salts (electrolytes). This remedy might be useful as a fever might cause loss of fluids and dehydration.
8. Rest
Activity can cause an increase in body temperature. Therefore, it is important that you rest well to recover from a fever. It may also be said that staying in a cool environment and dressing in light clothing might be helpful.
Though studies show the benefits of the given herb and home remedies in the condition, these are insufficient. There is a need for large scale human studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of these home remedies on human health. Thus, these should only be taken with caution and never as a substitute for medical treatment.
When to Seek Medical Help:
In other conditions, you should seek immediate medical attention under the following circumstances:
If you feel a pain or burning sensation while passing urine
If you feel the urge to urinate too often (frequent urination)
If you have vomiting
If your breathing is irregular
If you feel a stiffness of neck
If you are feeling dull or sleepy
If you are experiencing seizures
If you are in a confused state of mind
If you notice a purple spotted rash
If you have a persistent sore throat
If the fever is associated with ear pain. In children, you might notice the child tugging their ear, which can indicate ear pain.
If you have diarrhoea.
An increase in the body temperature of above 100.4 F or 38 C is regarded as a fever. It might indicate that something is not quite right in our body. It does not necessarily mean the presence of a disease. When you get a fever due to a viral infection, it is called a viral fever. A flushed face, diarrhoea, vomiting, headache, etc., might also be present along with a fever. A few herbs such as Changeri, coriander seed powder, etc. might help reduce fever. However, make sure that you consult a doctor for proper treatment, as in some cases, a viral fever may worsen.
